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Couple accused of assaulting manager in shoplifting

Published: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 10:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 10:21 p.m.

A man and a woman from North Carolina are accused of assaulting a woman who told police she tried to stop them from shoplifting.

A regional manager for Hollister at WestGate Mall said she saw a man and woman enter the store around 11 a.m. Thursday, select pants and a shirt and remove sensors from the clothing with pliers, according to an incident report.

Spartanburg Public Safety Department has charged Ashley Danielle Watkins, 28, of 343 Mountainview St. in Forest City, N.C., with two counts of strong arm robbery, one count of third-degree assault and battery, two counts of possessing tools capable of criminal use and one count of malicious injury to property less than $2,000.

Kashif Dominique Hamilton, 26, of 277 Old Castle Lane in Forest City, N.C., has been charged with third-degree assault and battery and two counts of shoplifting less than $2,000 worth of merchandise.

Watkins bought a pair of jeans before leaving Hollister, according to the report. Watkins and Hamilton then went to American Eagle where Watkins is accused of cutting a sensor off a pair of jeans and a jacket, the report states. The jacket was damaged and replaced before a plaid shirt was concealed, the report states.

The manager from Hollister confronted the suspects as they left American Eagle, the report states.

The victim said Watkins grabbed one of her arms and tried to push her and a fight started after the victim asked the suspects to return the stolen merchandise back, the report states. The victim told police both suspects drug her outside the mall, threatened to punch her in the face and said she was thrown to the ground in the parking lot.

Two women entering the mall tried to help the victim, before mall security detained the suspects, the report states. Spartanburg Public Safety officers later arrived and arrested them.

The total value of damaged merchandise from Hollister is $136.50 and the American Eagle merchandise totaled $139.85, according to the report.

The victim was taken to an urgent care center for treatment.

Watkins was released from jail under a $42,000 cash or surety bond, while Hamilton was released under a $3,000 cash or surety bond.

<p>A man and a woman from North Carolina are accused of assaulting a woman who told police she tried to stop them from shoplifting.</p><p>A regional manager for Hollister at WestGate Mall said she saw a man and woman enter the store around 11 a.m. Thursday, select pants and a shirt and remove sensors from the clothing with pliers, according to an incident report. </p><p>Spartanburg Public Safety Department has charged Ashley Danielle Watkins, 28, of 343 Mountainview St. in Forest City, N.C., with two counts of strong arm robbery, one count of third-degree assault and battery, two counts of possessing tools capable of criminal use and one count of malicious injury to property less than $2,000.</p><p>Kashif Dominique Hamilton, 26, of 277 Old Castle Lane in Forest City, N.C., has been charged with third-degree assault and battery and two counts of shoplifting less than $2,000 worth of merchandise.</p><p>Watkins bought a pair of jeans before leaving Hollister, according to the report. Watkins and Hamilton then went to American Eagle where Watkins is accused of cutting a sensor off a pair of jeans and a jacket, the report states. The jacket was damaged and replaced before a plaid shirt was concealed, the report states.</p><p>The manager from Hollister confronted the suspects as they left American Eagle, the report states.</p><p>The victim said Watkins grabbed one of her arms and tried to push her and a fight started after the victim asked the suspects to return the stolen merchandise back, the report states. The victim told police both suspects drug her outside the mall, threatened to punch her in the face and said she was thrown to the ground in the parking lot.</p><p>Two women entering the mall tried to help the victim, before mall security detained the suspects, the report states. Spartanburg Public Safety officers later arrived and arrested them.</p><p>The total value of damaged merchandise from Hollister is $136.50 and the American Eagle merchandise totaled $139.85, according to the report.</p><p>The victim was taken to an urgent care center for treatment. </p><p>Watkins was released from jail under a $42,000 cash or surety bond, while Hamilton was released under a $3,000 cash or surety bond.</p>